We'd
gotten wind of the Netflix iPad app earlier this morning, but when it wasn't included in the
first batch of apps to hit the App Store we just assumed it was coming on Saturday -- or possibly even later. But fear not, movie fans: it's just gone live, complete with screenshot confirmation that it'll do streaming video. That's a huge win for Apple and the iPad, given the restrictions on mobile devices Netflix has traditionally operated under -- remember, Microsoft was only allowed to say the Windows Phone 7 Series Netflix app was a "prototype" when it was
demoed at MIX. We're guessing the blurry line between the iPad and regular laptops / netbooks worked in Netflix's favor here, but that's just a semantic debate -- we're much more amused by the fact that the app
itself is rated 12+ in the App Store for "Simulated Gambling," "Fantasy Violence," and "Suggestive Themes," simply because it plays back movies from your queue that might have such scandalous content. Oh, App Store -- you truly are a paradise of misapplied bureaucratic intent unequaled in the tragic history of our civilization.
Update: Looks like the
ABC Player (opens iTunes) is now also available in the app store for the low, low price of
nada.
posted April 1st 2010 7:07PM
@Kloc would you really want to watch an entire movie on the iphone?
@Macc55
I wouldn't watch a full-length movie, but I would definitely watch a 22 minute tv episode and Netflix has scores of those for your viewing pleasure.
I'm really curious as to where people are going to be using this device, especially for tasks like watching a tv show or movie or reading a book/comic.
If you're home, how convenient can it be to hold up a 10", 1.5 lb device for anywhere from 30 minutes (tv shows, more like 22 minutes I guess) to about 2 hours (movies), and anywhere in between for reading. Wouldn't it make more sense to just turn on your HDTV?
Second use case scenario I was thinking of was on the train (NY subway/LIRR like commute). Again, 10", 1.5 lb device for say reading a newspaper or book, when the kindle is much smaller and compact (I see lots of folks with the kindle and some other e-readers during my commute). Alternatively, watching a movie or tv show, holding up the device or scrunched over in such a crowded space. It just seems so inconvenient.
I guess we'll see in the upcoming months how people are really using the device. Sales wise, I'm sure it would be a success for Apple, but once all the hype does down we'll really be able to tell. I'm really starting to get the feeling it will only be a novelty item, I guess like the Wii; everyone goes out and buys one, but then rarely gets used.
@Azazel11
Have you ever used your laptop to watch a movie? If so, where do you place it?
Have you ever used your laptop on a plane or train? If so, how was the experience?
Is the iPad lighter then your laptop? I think so.
@BrandonHarris A laptop essentially has a base, the keyboard part of it. I put it on my, u guessed it, lap and the screen faces me. I don't have to "hold" it up. Unless of course you hold up your laptop when doing any of those things.
I guess I can always prop my feet up on the seat in front of me on the train or plane, that way it would easily rest on my thighs.
@Azazel11 I've used a laptop to watch a movie and it was layed on the bed not on me. Also on a plane I set it on the pull down tray. These are all good experiences because the laptop's base holds up the screen so I don't have to. I just can't see this working as well with a slate. I've never been on a train other then ones at the airport so I can't comment on that.
@Azazel11 Well you have the Apple cover/stand to use, right? And 700 grams is one Harry Potter book - yet the readers are not complaining.
@Azazel11 Pretty much exactly what I said a few days ago. I actually find it stranger that people are looking at this as a video player, and thus think thats a good thing! There really is nothing quite like setting your laptop down on a table, sitting back and relaxing watching something when you're on a long train journey. The irony of ironies is that to be able to do the same thing with the iPad, you'll basically end up with something the size of a laptop! A simple stand won't be good enough as obviously the train does sway, plus it will need to support your taps on the screen. Then depending on the solution (this part rules out some sort of suction for me) it needs to allow you to tilt your device more than 180 degrees. This all sounds long, but the bottom line is the holder will be big and heavy. Or of course, you can hold it in your hand for that hour long journey. Awesome!
Seriously though, can you guys who are saying "this is great!" please explain how you intend to do this? Of course if you're just following the Apple thing of "Its ALMOST perfect, I'll just spend a bit more to make it so" and are planning to buy a stand, fair enough. But the question still stands though:
How is watching video on this device more practical then using a laptop/netbook when you're travelling (with their built in stands...); a phone for short trips where you're just unluckily stuck out, rather than planned to be; a spare TV at home in another room or your PC?
Engadget, please do a poll 2 weeks from tomorrow and ask the following questions:
How much have you spent on your iPad accessories?
How much have you spent on your iPad software?
@TheRealDeal "How is watching video on this device more practical then using a laptop/netbook when you're travelling (with their built in stands...); a phone for short trips where you're just unluckily stuck out, rather than planned to be; a spare TV at home in another room or your PC?"
I have a Cowon A2 and use it's case as a stand - never had a problem with "train sways" or in the airplane. I am pretty sure it will be the same with Apple's cover. I've seen people read books for hours straight on an airplane/train that are as heavy as the ipad - their hands didn't fall off. There is no a netbook that has 10" screen and weighs 700 grams, which makes it great for travel - much better than the small screens of phones and light at the same time. At home I don't own a TV. I have an Imac and a PC. Often one of them is rendering and there is only one available for surfing the net. At this point I need something for my girlfriend - light, cheap, big screen.
"it will need to support your taps on the screen." Put it on the train/apple table horizontally and type (the same way you would write). If a keyboard is the problem take one with you - yes, there will be 2 things to lug, but it won't be heavier than a 10" netbook - and you will have the option of not taking the keyboard when you don't need it.
"How much have you spent on your iPad accessories?
How much have you spent on your iPad software?"
The accessories are expensive, yes. Still I prefer having a more modular design. Doesn't bother me.
Paying for software. There is enough already plenty of free soft for the iphone/ipod and so I think it will be the same for the ipad. Is this soft crappy to some extent? Yes, the same way free software is crappier on a real computer. Most people's problem here is that the only thing they can't download is hardware. So for them a device's price is only the hardware. People who already pay their soft on their desktop won't be bothered much by some cheap apps for the ipad.
what is the point of watching netflix ,hulu,cbs, and abc on 10inch screen at home? when you have big tv in front of you.
I have fios tv it has cbs,nbc, abc, on demand for free.
@pinktac0yum You clearly don't have a wife and a DVR full of Tyra Show episodes to deal with.
@Dale P I hear ya dale but why not just buy another hdtv with that ipad $$.
with verizon fios i get on demand all the new shows.
I can't stand watching shows and movie on my cell phone or on my comp.
I need full 1080p to watch stuff.
So you guys don't have time to do a review of a device you have in your possession but you have time to update us about apps in the appstore?
R u serious!? How is this even news? Anyone can load up iTunes and browse the store for themselves. What we CAN'T do is review the JooJoo though because none of us have one.
I gotta stop coming to this site, seriously -- all you guys do is suck on apple's wang until it busts in your faces, posting useless "news" after useless "news"
@DoctarPeppar You seem upset. I suggest leaving Engadget. This is ridiculous. It's not worth all this drama.
@rkd
It's not drama, it's just stupid.
I really miss the days when Engadget was a reputable site with actual news..hasn't been that way for quite some time though, sadly.
@DoctarPeppar This post was written by Nilay. The post about the JooJoo was written by Josh. As much as I would love to think of all of Engadget's writing team living a house together like the Monkees or the Brady Bunch, they are actually separated by large amounts of land and - in some cases - water.
While Josh may not have time to review the JooJoo, someone else might, but they also don't have the thing in their possession.
this is not news
@1q2w3e4r
Im glad at least one other person realizes that. It's so insane when stuff like this happens, they just write articles about stuff that isn't even newsworthy _at_all_ and they straight up ignore stuff that is.
No love for the iPhone.
mmm, me think i just jizzed in my panties.
still not buying one. i get netflix already on my laptop and PS3
and I need a special app for the Ipad BECAUSE?
this get's stupider and stupider with every passing moment...
@obobo
See you and iPad already have something in common.
@obobo
there's no justification to your argument...
I will actually consider getting an ipad just because of netflix this makes it worth the money and I at first hated the idea of the ipad and was going to get an HP slate but now I will probally get the ipad this was a epic win for apple.
Disclaimer I currently only own one apple device which is my iPod
Game. Set. Match?
I think so. Because this is huge.
i was on the fence about this but the netflix app pretty much just sold me on it.
as usual need to be jailbroken,
without jailbreak, you cant save music,video etc from internet, and thats stupid.
and make $200 less, $500 for large ipod is insanely ridiculous.
@eka And a pricier larger TV is also ridiculous?
@eka
Content providers want to protect their intellectual property, I don't think this is unreasonable at all and Apple would hardly want to piss all over the hard work it has put into courting these companies to produce applications for their platform
hulu please
WTF! I type Engadget.com and it keeps sending me to Apple.com!
I was interested, but if it doesn't work with 3G (even a low-res version would be fine), then it's of no use to me at all.
Well this at least kind of helps set the ipad apart from the iphone.. Except it really shouldn't, there's no reason this should work on the ipad but not the iphone, android, WebOS, ect.
While this is certainly an excellent app that I would use in a heartbeat if I bought an ipad, I cannot buy an ipad.
Apple's refusal to include the most basic of features in their product lineup, the SDHC card slot is completely unforgivable.
Storage capacity is not a feature. It stopped being a feature when memory capacity became cheap.
The average price for a 32GB class 6 SDHC card is about $80.
Apple turns this into a premium of $200. If the device came with it's onboard ROM for the OS and a simple SDHC slot, they could knock $200 off the price! Leave it to the fanboys to accept this sort of price gouging.
@jpowerstech Good point. The lack of expandable storage does suck.
My take. Apple is "lazy" and does not want to write the software to handle the sudden removal of apps that might live on the SD Card. Hear that Apple? I think your just as lazy (and evil) as any other corporation out there. But they already knew that. The first one to throw a stone and all that.
@jpowerstech How is this a premium of 200$? For the 200$ you get 64GB. If it had an SD slot, for 80$ you would get 16GB+32GB=48GB.
When are we going to get a netflix app for the iphone?
I will laugh until I explode if it turns out this is running some form of silverlight
And why is it that I can't use this on my (admittedly tiny) iPhone?
too bad no multitasking.
@papplay There a plenty of multitasking / multiwindow utilities in the iTunes store. Also, there was a report yesterday that the 4.0 OS will officially have multitasking. Thankfully, this point of contention (no multitasking) is on the way out.
But will it allow you to stream in HD? The PC Netflix client currently will only allow the lower quality streams while the PS3 will do HD.
And yes... release this for android please.
This app alone just pushed me over the edge and now I want an iPad.
The Xbox 360 does "HD" feeds as well. They look really good (but are somewhere inbetween DVD and Blu-ray imo).
I just don't get why these arenn't available on the iPhone. Sigh...